The expression of IL-17 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-17(IL-17) in the pathogenesy of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods The serum levels of IL-17 were determined by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay in 20 healthy control and 24 COPD patients at acute exacerbation phase and stable phase.Pulmonary functions of COPD patients were tested and calculated for the percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) of prediction value(FEV1%).The percentage of blood neutrophils N were routinely measured.Results The serum levels of IL-17 were significantly higher in the COPD patients with acute exacerbation than those of the COPD patients at stable phase and the healthy group(P0.05).The serum levels of IL-17 were also higher in the COPD patients with stable phase than the healthy group(P0.05).The serum level of IL-17 was positively correlated with N% and was negatively correlated with FEV1% in the COPD patients with acute exacerbation phase and stable phase.Conclusion As a result,IL-17 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.